Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus.



F. J. ACKERMAN. RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.1, 1913. RENEWED NGV.19. 1914.

Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

INVENTOR wrmzssss W THE NORRIS PETERS CO., F/-IOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON D. c.

F. J. AGKERMAN. RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 1330.1, 1913 RENEWED NOV.l9. 1914 Patented Mar. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

/NSL/LATION I/MAGNE 772A BLE MAGNET/ZABLE MAGNE77ZABLE NON -MAGNETIZABLE 9a MAGNETIZABLE ENENTQR FIG 3 I MAGNET/ZAELE PRMANENT MAGNET WITNESSE 7H5 NORRIS PETERS co., PHOTC-LITHO.. wpsrlmnmlv u C.

r of a suitable operating circuit.

UNITED strnrns PATENT orrron.

FRANK J'. ACKERIVIAN, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA,

nssrenon TO THE UNION SWITCH & SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY-TRAFFIC-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

Original application filed November 11,1912, Serial No.

1, 1913, Serial No. 803,926. Renewed November 19,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANK J. AGKERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hallway-Tratlic-Controlling Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to railway traihc controlling apparatus.

The present application is a division of my oo-pending application filed November 11, 1912, Serial No. 730,543, for Railway tra tlic controlling apparatus.

I will describe one form of apparatus embodying my invention and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing one form of apparatus and circuits embodying my 1nvention. Fig. 2 is a view showing 111 end elevation one form of circuit controlling device shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line TIL-III of Fig. 2. t

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in each of the' several views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, A. designates atraffic controlling device, here shown as being a railway switch, which switch is actuated by an electric motor D through the medium of a suitable actuating mechanism F.

P designates power mains comprising wires 11 and 12, which mains are supplied with current from a source 10, here shown as being a battery, and from which mains current is supplied to the motor D by means i This oper ating circuit is controlled directly by a circuit controlling device G, which is illus trated in detail in Figs. 2 and 3. This device is preferably located. adjacent the switch A and is governed by a control circuit which includes contacts, operated by a manually operated lever 0, usually one of a plurallty of levers of an interlocking machine as eX- plained in my co-pending application of which the present application is a division.

The switch operating mechanism F which I have here shown may be briefly described as follows: Operatively connected with the armature 13 of motor D is a screw 15 which Specification of Letters Patent.

730,543. Divided and this application filed December 1914. Serial No. 873,050.

co-acts with a longitudinally movable nut 16. This nut is rigidly connected with a plate 18 provided with a cam slot 20, which latter co-acts with a roller or stud 17; this roller or stud drives a bar 19 connected with the movable rails of switch A. The plate 18 carriers four cams 80,31,514 and 57, which actuate respectively circuit controlling c011- tacts 82, 33, 52 and 53 for purposes hereinafter explained.

The lever C is of a usual and well known type comprising an oscillating shaft 70 which operates contacts 21, 22, 25 and 26. The contacts 21 and 22 constitute a polechanger for reversing the direction of current in the circuit controlling device G as hereinafter explained. The movements of the shaft 70 are governed by return indication devices K and K each of which comprises a segment 27 mounted rigidly upon the shaft 70 and provided with a dog 28 which co-acts with a latch 29 operatively connected with the armature of an electromagnet N or B. Each of these electromagnets is provided with a separate indication circuit extending from the lever C to the switch A, which circuits are traced in detail hereinafter. The contacts 25 and 26 serve to control the circuits of indication magnets It and N. These contacts are not moved during the first portion of the movement of the shaft 70 up to the point at which it is stopped by the dogs 28 but during the re mainder of the movement of the shaft the contacts 25 and 26 are reversed in position. This operation of contacts 25 and 26 is obtained, as here shown, by mounting the contacts loosely on the shaft 70, and by moving them by pins 73, 74, 75 and 76 carried by disks 71 and 72 fixed to the shaft 70.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the form of circuit controlling device G here shown comprises a polarized relay having magnets 77 and 77 and a neutral relay having magnets 85 and 85. The cores of these magnets are all mounted in front and back plates 84 and 79 of non-magnetizable material. The magnet cores of the polarized relay are connected by a soft iron back-strap 87 interposed between the back plate 79 and the magnet spools; and the magnet cores of the neutral relay are similarly connected by a soft iron back-strap 88 interposed between the front plate 84 and the magnet spools. The magnet cores of the polarized relay are provided'with pole-pieces 80 and 80 which are mounted on the cores and are held in place by nuts 128 and 129. A polarized armature 82 is pivotally mounted on a pin 83 carried in a soft iron head 90 and is adapted to oscillate between the pole-pieces 80 and 80. The armature 82 is polarized in any suitable manner; as here shown, this polarization is accomplished by means of a permanent magnet 91 mounted in the plates 84 and 79 and passing through the head 90. The back strap 87 extends downwardly and surrounds the permanent magnet 91, as shown in Fig. 3. The permanent magnet 91 and head 90 are held in place by nuts 92 and 93 screwed upon the threaded ends of the permanent magnet 91. Mounted upon the upper end of armature 82 is a bracket 94 of insulating material which carries contact fingers 95 and 96, which fingers are riveted inslots in suitable blocks 97 and 98 secured to the bracket 94 by screws99. The upper ends of these fingers engage with contacts 100, 101, 102 and 103 which are mounted in a suitable block 104 of insulating material carried by .upwardly reaching arms of front plate 84. It will be seen that when the armature 82 rests against pole-piece 80 (the position shown in Fig. 2), fingers 95 and 96 engage respectively with contacts 101 and 103; and that when the armature 82 is reversed in position so that it rests against pole-piece 80, fingers 95 and 96 will engage respectively with contacts 100 and 102. Contact fingers 95 and 96 are electrically connected, by means of wires 132 and 133 respectively, with terminal posts 134 and 135 respectively, which posts are mounted in a block 136 of insulating material carriedon arms 137 projecting forwardly from front plate 84. Secured to the armature 82 is an upwardly extending locking segment 34, the upper edge of which is provided with a dog 35 by means of which the armature may be mechanically locked in either of its extreme positions,- that is, against either of the polepieces 80 or 80, as hereinafter explained.

The magnets 85 and 85 of the neutral relay are provided with pole-pieces 36 (only one of which is shown located at the opposite end of the magnet from the pole-pieces 80 and 80 of the polarized relay. These pole-pieces 36 act upon a neutral armature 37 carried on the vertical arm of a bent lever 38, which lever is pivoted at 39 to suitable arms 44 extending upwardly from the back plate 79. Mounted upon this lever 38 by means of insulating studs 46 is a contact finger 45 the lower end of which co-acts with a contact block 47 mounted on a block 48 of insulating material, which latter is supported by suitable lugson theback plate 7 9. The contact 45-47 is closed when the relay 8585 is energized and open when the relay is de'encrgized. A horizontalarm 150 of lever 38 extends along the top of the device and co-acts with the dog. 35 to, control the movements of armature 82. This arm 150 is guided to'move vertically by a suitable slot in a lug 140 formed on the upper edge of the front plate 84. Nhen relay 85 is cleenergized, the ,arm 150 rests by gravity in the bottom of the slot in lug 140 and on one side or the other of the dog '35, so that the armature 82 is then looked in whichever position it occupies. But when the relay 8 585 is energized thereby attracting an mature 37, the arm 150 is raised sufficiently to allow dog 35 to pass under it, and the polarized armature 82 may then be reversed. The permanent magnet 91 is provided with a winding 89 for the purpose of maintaining and reinforcing the fiux of this magnet. This winding may be energized at times as will hereinafter appear.

Referring again to Fig. 1, the control circuit for the windings of polarized relay 7777 is from positive main 11 through wire 40,- contact 21, wire 42, windings 77 and 77 wire 106, contact 4547, wire 41, contact 22, wire 43, to negative main 12. It will be seenthat this circuit includes contact 45 which is controlled by the neutral magnet 85-85 and that therefore this circuit is closed only when the neutral magnet is energized. It will be seen also that this control circuit includes the pole-changing contacts 21 and22, and that therefore, direction of current through the polarized relay windings depends on the position of lever .C. Winding 85 is provided with terminals 125 and 120, and winding 85 is provided with terminals 122 and 121. One terminal of each of these windings (terminals 122 and 125) is connected with control wire 41. The remaining terminal 120 of winding 85 is connected through contact 53 and wires 111 and 59, with negative. power main 12; the remaining terminal 121 of winding 85 is connected through contact 52 and wires 58 and 109 with positive power main 11. a

In Fig. 1, I have shown the switch A in what I shall herein term its normal position, and the other parts of the apparatus in v open. Contact 45 is therefore open, so that the control-circuit for the polarized relay 77-77 is open and this relay is therefore consumingfno current. When it is desired to move switchAto its other position, which 1 will herein term the reverse position, the shaft of lever C is rotated in the direction of the arrow until the dog 28 of indication device K engages latch 29. This movement reverses the position of polechanging contacts 21 and 22, thereby connecting wires 41 and 42 with the positive and negative mains 11 and 12 respectively. Terminal 125 of winding 85 is then connected with positive main l1, and since the other terminal 120 is connected with the negative main 12, this winding then becomes energized and is suificient to raise the lever 38, thereby closing contact 15- 17 and unlocking armature 82. The closing of contact 45 closes the circuit through the windings 77-77 of the polarized relay, and since the pole-changing contacts 21 and 22 are reversed, the current flowing through the polarized relay is now in such direction as to reverse the position of armature 82. The reversal of armature 82 reverses contacts 95 and 96, so that operating current is supplied to the motor D through the following circuit-from positive main 11 through wire 60, winding 89, wire 62, contact 95, wire 65, motor armature 13, wire 66, contact 96, wire 67, contact 33, wires 68 and 69, motor field winding 14, wire 59 to negative main 12. This current passes through winding 89 in such direction as to reinforce the flux of the permanent magnet 91, thereby assuring that the flux of this magnet shall be maintained. VVinding 89 is preferably of low resistance so that it will not greatly reduce the motor current. The motor D is operated by this current in such direction as to actuate the mechanism F to move switch A to the reverse position. As soon as the motor has moved the plate 18 a short distance, contact 52 closes thereby connecting terminal 121 of winding 85 with positive main 11. This closes the following circuit through the windings 85 and 85 from positive power main 11 through wires 109 and 58, contact 52, terminal 121, winding 85, terminals 122 and 125, winding 85, terminal 120, contact 53, wires 111 and 59 to negative power main 12. This current passes in such direction through the two windings 85 and 85 that these windings combine to energize the relay. lVhen the movement of the switch A to the reverse position has been completed and the switch rails have been locked by the end portion of cam slot 20, contact 33 is reversed in position by dog 31, thereby opening the motor operating circuit; at the same time contact 53 is reversed by dog 57, thereby disconnecting terminal 120 from the negative main 12 and leaving both terminals of winding 85 connected with the positive main 11, so that the neutral relay consumes no current and lever 38 falls, thereby locking polarized armature 82 in the posi tion which it now occupies. The falling of lever 38 opens contact 45 which latter opens the circuit of the polarized relay 7777 so that this relay then becomes deenergized. It will be seen, therefore, that as soon as a movement of the switch has been com pleted, the consumption of current by the controlling device G ceases. The reversal of contact 33 closes an indication circuit through the magnet R as follows: from positive power main 11 through wires 109 and 110, contact 33, wire 107, contact 25, wire 55, magnet R and wire 56, to negative power main 12. Current in this circuit energizes magnet R which raises its armature, thereby raising latch 29 out of the path of dog 28, so that the movement of the lever C may then be continued to the end of the stroke. During this last portion of the movement of lever C, contact 25 is reversed thereby opening the circuit of magnet R, and contact 26 is also reversed thereby closing at that point the circuit for magnet N, so that the circuit for this magnet may be closed at the switch after the latter has again been moved to its normal position.

The movement of switch A from its reverse position to its normal position would be similar to that just described. For such movement the direction of the control current through the polarized relay winding is again reversed by contacts 21 and 22, so that winding 85 becomes energized because its terminals 122 and 121 are connected with negative main 11 and positive main 12 respectit'ely. Contacts 95 and 96 are then moved back to the position shown in the drawing. A motor operating circuit is then closed through motor D as follows-from positive power main 11 through wire 60 winding 89, wires 62 and 64, contact 96, wire 66, motor armature 13, wire 65, contact 95, wire 112, contact 32, wires 113 and 69, field winding 14, wire 59 to negative power main 12. This current passes through armature 13 in the opposite direction to that hereinbefore described so that the motor then operates in the proper direction to move the switch A to its normal position. After such movement has been completed, indication magnet N is energized in a manner similar to that hereinbefore eX- plained for magnet R, and the movement of the lever O can then be completed.

One impartant feature of switch controlling apparatus and circuits embodying my invention is that no current is consumed by the apparatus except when the switch is being moved. But in spite of this, if the lever 38 is raised by hand and the polarized armature 82 shifted to energize the motor D to move the switch A to the position opposite to that corresponding to the position of the control lever C, then when the parts are left to themselves the circuit controlling device Gwill automatically operate to bring the raised by hand and armature 82 shifted, the

connection to the switch motor D will be closed insuch direction as to reverse the switch. Then after the operating mechani'sm has moved far enough to close contact 52,if'the parts are left to themselves, the neutral relay will be energized because the terminals 122 and 121 of winding 85 are connected respectively with negative and positive mains 12 and 11, hence armature 82 will be unlocked, and the direction of current in the windings 77'T7 of the polarized relay is such as to shift this armature to theposition shown in the drawing, thereby shifting contacts 95 and 96 to cause the motor D to return switch A to the normal position.

Although I have herein shown and de scribed only one form of apparatus and circuits embodying my invention, it is understood that various changes and modifications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1.1 In combination, a railway tr'a'liic controlling device, electromagnetic means for controlling said device, a source of current, a circuit for said means including said source, a relay having a contact for controllifig said circuit, said relay comprising two windings, means controlled by the traflic controlling device for connecting one terminal of one winding with one pole of the source or one terminal of the other winding with the other pole of the source according to the position of the traflic controlling device, and means for connecting the remaining terminal of each winding with one pole or the other of said source.

v 2', In combination, a railway traffic con trolling device, electromagnetic means comprising a member for controlling said de vice, a source of current, a circuit for controlling said means, a relay comprising a contact for the control of said circuit,means controlled by the armature of said relay for locking said member, said relay comprising two windings, means controlled by the traffic controlling device for connecting one terminal of one winding with one pole of the source or one terminal of the other winding with the other pole of the source according to the position of the traiiic controlling device, and means for connecting the remainingterminal of eachwinding with one pole or'the otherof said source. 7

Q3. combination, a railwaytratlic controlling device, electromagnetic means comprisin'ga member for controlling said device, a's'euree'ef current, an electromagnethaving an armature adapted to lock said member, said electromagnet comprising two windings, means controlled by the traific controlling device for connecting one terminal of one winding with one pole of the source or one terminal of the other winding with the other pole of the source according to the position of the traflic controlling device, and means for connecting the remaining terminal of each winding with one pole or the other of said source. a

4, In combination, a railway trafiic controlling device; electromagnetic means for the control thereof, a magnet for controlling said'mean's and comprising two windings, a source of current, means controlled by the traflic controlling device for connecting one terminal of one winding with one pole of the '-source or one terminal of the other winding with the other pole of the source according to the position of the trafiic controlling device, and means for connecting the remaining terminal of each winding with one pole or the other of said source.

5. In combination, a railway traiiic controlling device, electromagnetic means responsive to reversals of current for controlling said device, a source of current, a circuit for said means including said source and a pole-changer, magnet for controlling said electromagnetic means and comprising two windings one terminal of each winding being connected with said circuit between the pole-changer and said means, means controlled by the traiiic controlling device for connecting the other terminal of one winding with one pole of the source or the other terminal of the other winding with the other pole of the source, the said connections being so arranged that when the pole-changer and the traflic controlling device occupy corresponding positions the two terminals of one winding are connected with one pole of the source or the two terminals of the other winding are connected with the other pole of the source. 7

6. In combination, a railway traific controlling device, a motor for operating it in reverse directions, a source of current, a polarized relay comprising an armature, contacts and connections controlled by said armature for supplying current from said source to the motor to cause the latter to operate in one direction or the other according to the position of the armature; a pair of conductors connected with said relay, a pole-changer for reversibly connecting said conductors with the source, a magnet, an armature controlled thereby and adapted to lock the polarized armature in either of its control positions when the magnet is deenergized, said magnet comprising two windings one terminal of each winding being connected with one of said conductors,

means controlled by the trail-1c controlling device for connecting the remaining terminal of one winding with one pole of the source or the remaining terminal of the other winding with the other pole of the source according as the device occupies one extreme position or the other, the connections being so arranged that when the traflic controlling device and the pole-changer occupy corresponding positions the two terminals of one winding are connected with one pole of the source or the two terminals of the other winding are connected with the other pole of the source.

7. In combination, a railway trafiic controlling device, a motor for operating it in reverse directions, a source of current, a polarized relay comprising a polarized armature, contacts and connections controlled by said armature for supplying current from said source to the motor to cause the latter to operate in one direction or the other according to the position of the armature; a pair of conductors connected with the winding of the said relay, a pole-changer for reversibly connecting said conductors with the source, a neutral relay a front contact of which is included in one 01": the said conductors, said neutral relay comprising two windings one terminal of each winding being connected with one of said conductors, means controlled by the traflic controlling device for connecting the remaining terminal of one winding with one pole of the source or the remaining terminal of the other winding with the other pole of the source according as the device occupies one extreme position or the other, the said remaining terminal which is connected with the source being connected with the same pole as is connected with the two first-mentioned terminals when the traflic controlling device and the pole-changer occupy corresponding positions.

8. In combination, an electromagnetic device responsive to reversals of current, a railway trafiic controlling device controlled thereby, a pair of conductors connected with said electromagnetic device, a source of current, a pole-changer for reversibly connecting said source with said conductors, for controlling the circuit for said electromagnetic device, said relay comprising two windings one terminal of each winding being connected with one of said conductors, and means controlled by the traflic controlling device'for connecting the remaining terminal of one Winding with one pole of the source or the remaining terminal of the other winding with the other pole of the source according as the device occupies one extreme position or the other, the said remaining terminal which is connected with the source being connected with the same pole as is connected with the two first mentioned terminals when the traflic controlling device and the pole changer occupy corresponding positions.

9. In combination, an electromagnetic device responsive to reversals of current, a pair of conductors connected with the winding thereof, a source of current, a pole changer for reversibly connecting said source with said conductors, a relay for controlling the circuit for said electromagnetic device, said relay comprising two windings, one terminal of each winding being connected with one of said conductors, and means controlled by the electromagnetic device for connecting the remaining terminal of one winding with one pole of the source or the remaining terminal of the other winding with the other pole of the source.

10. In combination, an electromagnetic device, a relay for controlling said device and comprising two windings, a source of current, means controlled by the electromagnetic device for connecting one terminal of one winding with one pole of the source or one terminal of the other winding with the other pole of the source, and means for connecting the remaining terminal of each winding with one pole or the other of said source.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. ACKERMAN. Witnesses V. H. RAGLAND, F. N. Errs.

a relay Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents, Washington, D. G. 

